Internal-combustion engine



Sept. lO, 1929. M. wooLsoN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 30, 1923 Patented Sept. l0, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON, OI DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed November 30, 1923. Serial No. 677,757.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to means for supplying mixture to such engines.

In the use of large internal combustion s engines such as in airplanes or dirigibles, the problem of starting such engines, particularly in cold weather, is a diflicult one.l

Since an electric starter for a large airplane engine, together with the required battery, i would weigh a considerable amount, they are seldom used as regular equipment. Hand cranking devices have come into quite gen eral use and in many instances the engine is turned over or cranked by rotating the i propeller to wh'ich it ,is attached. Both of these means of cranking necessarily turn the engine over very slowly and consequently the main carburetor of the engine can seldom be relied upon to produce the necessary mixture l for tiring in the cylinders.

It is therefore one ot the objects o't the present invention to provide an auxiliary or secondary means for supplying mixture to such an engine as described above so that i a combustible charge will reach the cylinders of the engine even though it is turning over very slowly.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide a portable mixture forming device which may be connected to and disconnected from an internal combustion engine for supplying mixture to the cylinders, usually for starting purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixture forming means and a torch associated therewith and designed to heat the mixture formed by said means.

Another object of the invention is to provide as a unitary structure, a mixture forming device and a gasoline torch for the purpose of forming a heated mixture and supplying it to an internal combustion engine through temporary connection therewith.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation and part sectional view of an internal combustion engine and a mixture device connected thereto and embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a. modilied form ot connecting valve.

Referring to the drawings,

adapted to supply mixture to the conduit 11 Ytor the normal operation of the engine. 6o

'lhis carburetor may be of any suitable coni struction and adapted to supply mixture to the engine at all the speeds within its range ot' operation.

A mixture forming means which may be 65 connected to and disconnected from the engine is also shown in Fig. 1. It comprises a unitary structure mounted upon a. support 13. On the support is a gasoline torch 1t. which may be of the usual construction and 70 embodying a tank 15 secured to the support 13 as by a strap 16, a nozzle 17 and a control handle 18. In operation this blow torch may be lighted in the usual Way and a blue flame will be produced at the end of the 75 nozzle 17.

Also mounted on the support 13 is a mixture device or carburetor 19 of conventional construction, this carburetor having a float chamber 20, an air intake 21, a fuel nozzle 80 .22 connected with the float chamber through one or more channels 2S, and a throttle valve 24. for controlling the outlet from the carburetor. The float chamber is connected to the tank 15 of the gasoline torch as by a 85 tube 25 so that the carburetor is supplied with gasoline from the same source as is the torch nozzle 17. l

Extending from the outlet of the carburetor 19 is a pipe or conduit 26 which is 90 jacketed at 27 and provided with one or a series of openings 28 forming outlet ports from the jacket 27 to the interior of the conduit 26. The jacket 27 is also provided with an inlet opening 29 which is arranged adja- 95 cent the nozzle 17 ot the blow torch so that the flame from the torch enters the jacket Q7 through said .inlet port and thereby heats the jacket and the pipe 26 to a high degree. This heating of the pipe 26 causes the mix- 100 ture passing through it from the carburetor 19 to be highlyheated and the products of combustion from the torch passing through the ports 28 commingle with the mixture passing through the pipe 26 and further heat it and to some extent dilute it.

A pipe 30, Hexible or otherwise, extends from the outlet end of the conduit 26 to a connection device 31 Whichvis shown in the form of a nut for making a detachable connection to a nipple 32 in a valve member 33. The valve member 33 is connected to the intake conduit 11 of the engine and a valve 34 is arranged to connect the pipe 30 with the intake conduit of the engine or disconnect it therefrom. It is intended that the valve 34 shall be opened when the pipe 30 is connected to the valve member 33 and closed as said pipe is disconnected therefrom'. 'The pipe 30 is shown in dotted lines in disconnected position whereby the entire unit mounted on the support 13 is disconnected from the engine.

It will be understood that the mixture unit mounted on the support 13 i's portable and may be connected to an engine for starting the engine and then disconnected therefrom after the engine has been started. In operation, the device is brought into position adjacentk an internal combustion engine, the pipe 30 is connected to the intake conduit 11 of the engine, as above described, the blow torch 14 is lighted so that the flame from it enters the jacket 27 and heats the pipe 26. The throttle valve of the carburetor 12 is then closed, the throttle valve 24 of the carburetor 19 is partly opened, and the engine 10 is then slowly cranked over. The suction in the engine cylinders will cause a mixture to be drawn from the carburetor 19 through the heated conduit 26 and, together with some of the burnt gas from the torch, this mixture will be drawn through the pipe 30 and the valve member 33 into the intake conduit 11 of the engine. This mixture, Which will be made rather rich by lproperly adjusting the carburetor 19, Will be suiliciently heated by the torch and will therefore readily. ignite in the engine cylinder. As the engine turns over slow ly under its own power the mixture Will continue `to be supplied by the small carburetor 19 and heated by the gasoline torch 14 until such time as thefengine has developed sutlicient heatand speed to draw in a mixture from the carburetor 12 and .lire it. The throttle valve of the carburetor 12 is gradually opened and the throttle valve ofthe carburetor 19 may be closed or.the valve 34 may be closed as soon as the' engine begins to operate on the carburetor 12." Thereafter the torch 14 may be extinguished and the lconnection 30 may be disconnected from the engine intake conduit.

By the arrangement of the carburetor 19 and the gasoline torch on the same support, the carburetor may be supplied with fuel from the tank 15 and the torch nozzle may be directed accurately into the jacket 27. The device is easily transported from one engine to another on an aviation field or as may be desired.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, a slightly different form of connection is shown from the tube 30 to the engine intake conduit 11. A valve member 33 is shown connected to the intake conduit but instead of having a hand operated valve as in thc other form, an automatically closing valve 40 is provided, said valve having a spring 41 bearing against a pin 42 extending through the end of the valve stem and -tending to close the valve on its seat. A connecting nut 31a is mounted atI the end of the pipe 30 and as it is threaded into the nipple 32, of the valve member 33a, it connects with the pin 42 and thereby forces the valve 40 off of its seat. Thus the valve 40 is positively opened as the tube 30 is connected to the intake conduit and is automatically closed as the tube is disconnected therefrom.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimy and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a mixture heating device for internal combustion engines, the combination of a carburetor and an intake pipe supplied thereby, a jacket on part of said intake pipe and having an inlet opening and an outlet port into said intake pipe, and a blow torch positioned with its nozzle adjacent'to but disconnected from the intake opening of said jacket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON. 

